Rizin Decade results, videos: Horiguchi and Satoshi shine, Koike wins epic rematch in NYE extravaganza

Rizin Fighting Federation delivered an incredible night of fights and three championship bouts to close 2024 with its traditional New Year’s Eve card at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Chihiro Suzuki entered the ring to defend his featherweight throne in a rematch against Kleber Koike, and the duo engaged in a bloody 15-minute war that lasted until after midnight. Koike, who tapped Suzuki in three minutes when they first fought but had the win automatically overturned to no-contest due to his weight miss, had the mount in the opening round, but Suzuki defended well the attacks, including heel kicks to the face.

The Brazilian changed strategies in the second round, marching forward to take Suzuki to the ground. The Japanese got back to his feet several times, but Koike eventually had him on the ground and mounted, going for a triangle choke and mounted neck crank that had Suzuki working hard to escape.

The clock hit midnight, and 2025 began while Koike and Suzuki prepared for the final round. Suzuki returned aggressively to open a deep cut on Koike’s forehead, and the bloody challenger went for the finish and locked in a deep triangle armbar that slipped away. Koike again got the mount and landed heavy punches and elbows until time ran out. In the end, Koike regained the featherweight title via unanimous decision.

The co-main event saw Nkazimulo Zulu surprise Kyoji Horiguchi a couple times, rocking and even dropping the flyweight champion, but not enough to steal the title. Horiguchi worked on takedowns early in round one but couldn’t secure the finish, and Zulu stunned him with a left hand when back on the feet. Horiguchi responded by dropping Zulu with a right hand to the head.

As round two started, Zulu shot for a takedown and Horiguchi reversed to stay on top until the final minute, when they returned to their feet, when Zulu again stunned him. Horiguchi went back for the final round and completely dominated Zulu on the wrestling department, landing heavy ground and pound to win a unanimous decision.

Roberto Satoshi successfully defended his lightweight championship with a flawless performance against a dangerous Vugar Karamov. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace took Karamov down and played guard long enough to lock a tight triangle choke and force the former 145-pound champion to tap with 15 seconds left in the opening round. Satoshi has now 11 wins in 12 Rizin appearances, including 10 stoppages.

Japan’s great and No. 12 ranked pound-for-pound fighter Seika Izawa walked through short-notice replacement Lucia Apdelgarim in a non-title match. Izawa wasted no time taking Apdelgarim to the ground and going for the finish, switching back and forth between triangle chokes and armbars. The stoppage only came when she combined both to force Apdelgarim to tap.

The main card opener saw Yuki Motoya enter the ring for his 50th professional fight and defeat Kyoma Akimoto to a hard-fought decision and earn a shot at Rizin bantamweight champion Naoki Inoue. Rizin founder Nobuyuki Sakakibara announced the title bout rematch will take place March 31 in Kagawa, Japan. Inoue beat Motoya back in 2020 via first-round submission.

Click here for complete Rizin Decade results.